diff --git a/src/actions.c b/src/actions.c
index 407ee122..eec582da 100644
--- a/src/actions.c
+++ b/src/actions.c
@@ -122,8 +122,10 @@ const char *get_text_floater(int i)
       if(xctx->text[i].floater_ptr) {
         txt_ptr = xctx->text[i].floater_ptr;
       } else {
+        char *res = NULL;
         /* cache floater translated text to avoid re-evaluating every time schematic is drawn */
-        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &xctx->text[i].floater_ptr, translate(inst, xctx->text[i].txt_ptr));
+        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &xctx->text[i].floater_ptr, translate(inst, xctx->text[i].txt_ptr, res));
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
         txt_ptr = xctx->text[i].floater_ptr;
       }
       dbg(1, "floater: %s\n",txt_ptr);
@@ -132,9 +134,11 @@ const char *get_text_floater(int i)
        * (but name=something or floater=something attribute must be present) and text
        * matches tcleval(...) or contains '@' */
       if(strstr(txt_ptr, "tcleval(") == txt_ptr || strchr(txt_ptr, '@')) {
+        char *res = NULL;
         /* my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &xctx->text[i].floater_ptr, tcl_hook2(xctx->text[i].txt_ptr)); */
-        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &xctx->text[i].floater_ptr, translate(-1, xctx->text[i].txt_ptr));
+        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &xctx->text[i].floater_ptr, translate(-1, xctx->text[i].txt_ptr, res));
         txt_ptr = xctx->text[i].floater_ptr;
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -1561,6 +1565,7 @@ int place_symbol(int pos, const char *symbol_name, double x, double y, short rot
  int i,j,n;
  char name[PATH_MAX];
  char name1[PATH_MAX];
+ char *res = NULL;
 
  if(symbol_name==NULL) {
    tcleval("load_file_dialog {Choose symbol} *.\\{sym,tcl\\} INITIALINSTDIR");
@@ -1634,7 +1639,8 @@ int place_symbol(int pos, const char *symbol_name, double x, double y, short rot
   xctx->instances++;/* translate expects the correct balue of xctx->instances */
   /* After having assigned prop_ptr to new instance translate symbol reference
    * to resolve @params  --> res.tcl(@value\) --> res.tcl(100) */
-  my_strncpy(name, translate(n, name), S(name));
+  my_strncpy(name, translate(n, name, res), S(name));
+  my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
   /* parameters like res.tcl(@value\) have been resolved, so reload symbol removing previous */
   if(strcmp(name, name1)) {
     remove_symbol(i);
diff --git a/src/draw.c b/src/draw.c
index a87b1166..c3ad6a7e 100644
--- a/src/draw.c
+++ b/src/draw.c
@@ -853,6 +853,7 @@ void draw_symbol(int what,int c, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot,
       /* display PINLAYER colored instance texts even if PINLAYER disabled */
       if(xctx->inst[n].color == -PINLAYER || xctx->enable_layer[textlayer]) {
         char *txtptr = NULL;
+        char *res = NULL;
         #if HAS_CAIRO==1
         textfont = symptr->text[j].font;
         if((textfont && textfont[0]) || (symptr->text[j].flags & (TEXT_BOLD | TEXT_OBLIQUE | TEXT_ITALIC))) {
@@ -874,7 +875,8 @@ void draw_symbol(int what,int c, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot,
         }
         #endif
         dbg(1, "draw_symbol(): drawing string: before translate(): text.txt_ptr=%s\n", text.txt_ptr);
-        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &txtptr, translate(n, text.txt_ptr));
+        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &txtptr, translate(n, text.txt_ptr, res));
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
         /* do another round of substitutions if some @var are found, but if not found leave @var as is */
         dbg(1, "draw_symbol(): drawing string: str=%s prop=%s\n",
                 txtptr, text.prop_ptr ?  text.prop_ptr : "<NULL>");
@@ -1034,6 +1036,7 @@ void draw_temp_symbol(int what, GC gc, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot
    if( !(xctx->inst[n].flags & HIDE_SYMBOL_TEXTS) &&  layer==SELLAYER && xctx->sym_txt)
    {
     char *txtptr = NULL;
+    char *res = NULL;
     for(j=0;j< symptr->texts; ++j)
     {
      double xscale, yscale;
@@ -1046,7 +1049,8 @@ void draw_temp_symbol(int what, GC gc, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot
      #if HAS_CAIRO==1
      customfont = set_text_custom_font(&text);
      #endif
-     my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &txtptr, translate(n, text.txt_ptr));
+     my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &txtptr, translate(n, text.txt_ptr, res));
+     my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       /* do another round of substitutions if some @var are found, but if not found leave @var as is */
       my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &txtptr, translate3(txtptr, 0, xctx->inst[n].prop_ptr,
         xctx->sym[xctx->inst[n].ptr].templ, NULL, NULL));
diff --git a/src/editprop.c b/src/editprop.c
index 80d427b7..43d60140 100644
--- a/src/editprop.c
+++ b/src/editprop.c
@@ -1599,6 +1599,7 @@ static int update_symbol(const char *result, int x, int selected_inst)
   int *ii = &xctx->edit_sym_i; /* static var */
   int *netl_com = &xctx->netlist_commands; /* static var */
   int modified = 0;
+  char *res = NULL;
 
   dbg(1, "update_symbol(): entering, selected_inst = %d\n", selected_inst);
   *ii = selected_inst;
@@ -1644,7 +1645,8 @@ static int update_symbol(const char *result, int x, int selected_inst)
     /* 20171220 calculate bbox before changes to correctly redraw areas */
     /* must be recalculated as cairo text extents vary with zoom factor. */
     symbol_bbox(*ii, &xctx->inst[*ii].x1, &xctx->inst[*ii].y1, &xctx->inst[*ii].x2, &xctx->inst[*ii].y2);
-    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &old_translated_sym, translate(*ii, xctx->inst[*ii].name));
+    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &old_translated_sym, translate(*ii, xctx->inst[*ii].name, res));
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     /* update property string from tcl dialog */
     if(!no_change_props)
     {
@@ -1677,7 +1679,8 @@ static int update_symbol(const char *result, int x, int selected_inst)
      * to use for inst name (from symbol template) */
     prefix = 0;
     sym_number = -1;
-    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(*ii, symbol));
+    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(*ii, symbol, res));
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     dbg(1, "update_symbol: %s -- %s\n", translated_sym, old_translated_sym);
     if(changed_symbol ||
         ( !strcmp(symbol, xctx->inst[*ii].name) &&  strcmp(translated_sym, old_translated_sym) ) ) {
diff --git a/src/psprint.c b/src/psprint.c
index af067222..52e43ffd 100644
--- a/src/psprint.c
+++ b/src/psprint.c
@@ -965,6 +965,7 @@ static void ps_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer, int what, short tmp_flip, sho
   int lvs_ignore = 0;
   char *textfont;
   int c_for_text;
+  char *res = NULL;
 
   type = xctx->sym[xctx->inst[n].ptr].type;
   lvs_ignore=tclgetboolvar("lvs_ignore");
@@ -1179,13 +1180,12 @@ static void ps_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer, int what, short tmp_flip, sho
     for(j=0;j< (xctx->inst[n].ptr+ xctx->sym)->texts; ++j)
     {
       double xscale, yscale;
-
       get_sym_text_size(n, j, &xscale, &yscale);
       text = symptr->text[j];
       /* if(xscale*FONTWIDTH* xctx->mooz<1) continue; */
       if(!xctx->show_hidden_texts && (text.flags & (HIDE_TEXT | HIDE_TEXT_INSTANTIATED))) continue;
       if( hide && text.txt_ptr && strcmp(text.txt_ptr, "@symname") && strcmp(text.txt_ptr, "@name") ) continue;
-      txtptr= translate(n, text.txt_ptr);
+      txtptr= translate(n, text.txt_ptr, res);
       ROTATION(rot, flip, 0.0,0.0,text.x0,text.y0,x1,y1);
       textlayer = c_for_text;
       /* do not allow custom text color on hilighted instances */
@@ -1234,6 +1234,7 @@ static void ps_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer, int what, short tmp_flip, sho
       }
       if(textlayer != c) set_ps_colors(c);
     }
+    if(res) my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/save.c b/src/save.c
index 007853a1..50572c31 100644
--- a/src/save.c
+++ b/src/save.c
@@ -3521,6 +3521,7 @@ void link_symbols_to_instances(int from)
   int cond, i, merge = 1;
   char *type=NULL;
   char *name = NULL;
+  char *res = NULL;
 
   if(from < 0 ) {
     from = 0;
@@ -3530,7 +3531,8 @@ void link_symbols_to_instances(int from)
     dbg(2, "link_symbols_to_instances(): inst=%d\n", i);
     dbg(2, "link_symbols_to_instances(): matching inst %d name=%s \n",i, xctx->inst[i].name);
     dbg(2, "link_symbols_to_instances(): -------\n");
-    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &name, tcl_hook2(translate(i, xctx->inst[i].name)));
+    my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &name, tcl_hook2(translate(i, xctx->inst[i].name, res)));
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     xctx->inst[i].ptr = match_symbol(name);
     my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &name);
   }
@@ -5217,6 +5219,8 @@ int descend_symbol(void)
   int n = 0;
   struct stat buf;
   int save_netlist_type = xctx->netlist_type;
+  char *res = NULL;
+
   if(xctx->currsch + 1 >= CADMAXHIER) {
     dbg(0, "descend_symbol(): max hierarchy depth reached: %d", CADMAXHIER);
     return 0;
@@ -5240,7 +5244,8 @@ int descend_symbol(void)
       if(ret == 0) clear_all_hilights();
       if(ret == -1) return 0; /* user cancel */
     }
-    my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s", translate(n, xctx->inst[n].name));
+    my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s", translate(n, xctx->inst[n].name, res));
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     /* dont allow descend in the default missing symbol */
     if((xctx->inst[n].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type &&
        !strcmp( (xctx->inst[n].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type,"missing")) return 0;
diff --git a/src/scheduler.c b/src/scheduler.c
index e0f947c8..25b970f1 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.c
+++ b/src/scheduler.c
@@ -4899,6 +4899,7 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       int sym_number = -1;
       char *subst = NULL;
       int inst;
+      char *res = NULL;
 
       if(!xctx) {Tcl_SetResult(interp, not_avail, TCL_STATIC); return TCL_ERROR;}
       if(argc < 3) {
@@ -4919,7 +4920,8 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       hash_names(inst, XDELETE);
       set_inst_prop(inst);
 
-      my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(inst, xctx->inst[inst].name));
+      my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(inst, xctx->inst[inst].name, res));
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       sym_number=match_symbol(translated_sym);
 
       if(sym_number > 0) {
@@ -5836,7 +5838,8 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
         } else {
           char *translated_sym = NULL;
           int sym_number = -1;
-          char *subst = NULL, *old_name = NULL;;
+          char *subst = NULL, *old_name = NULL;
+          char *res = NULL;
 
           if(!fast) {
             symbol_bbox(inst, &xctx->inst[inst].x1, &xctx->inst[inst].y1, &xctx->inst[inst].x2, &xctx->inst[inst].y2);
@@ -5870,7 +5873,8 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
           if(old_name) {
             update_attached_floaters(old_name, inst, 0);
           }
-          my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(inst, xctx->inst[inst].name));
+          my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &translated_sym, translate(inst, xctx->inst[inst].name, res));
+          my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
           sym_number=match_symbol(translated_sym);
 
           if(sym_number > 0) {
@@ -6526,12 +6530,14 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       if(argc>3) {
         int i;
         char *s = NULL;
+        char *res = NULL;
         if(!strcmp(argv[2], "-1")) i = -1;
         else if((i = get_instance(argv[2])) < 0 ) {
           Tcl_SetResult(interp, "xschem translate: instance not found", TCL_STATIC);
           return TCL_ERROR;
         }
-        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &s, translate(i, argv[3]));
+        my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &s, translate(i, argv[3], res));
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
         Tcl_ResetResult(interp);
         Tcl_SetResult(interp, s, TCL_VOLATILE);
         my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &s);
diff --git a/src/select.c b/src/select.c
index a45ee5dd..7b6790cb 100644
--- a/src/select.c
+++ b/src/select.c
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ void symbol_bbox(int i, double *x1,double *y1, double *x2, double *y2)
    {
      double xscale, yscale;
      char *estr = NULL;
+     char *res = NULL;
      get_sym_text_size(i, j, &xscale, &yscale);
 
      text = (xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->text[j];
@@ -361,7 +362,7 @@ void symbol_bbox(int i, double *x1,double *y1, double *x2, double *y2)
      sym_flip = flip;
      sym_rot = rot;
      dbg(1, "symbol_bbox(): instance %d text n: %d text str=%s\n", i,j, text.txt_ptr? text.txt_ptr:"<NULL>");
-     tmp_txt = translate(i, text.txt_ptr);
+     tmp_txt = translate(i, text.txt_ptr, res);
      dbg(1, "symbol_bbox(): translated text: %s\n", tmp_txt);
      if(tmp_txt && !strncmp(tmp_txt, "@spice", 6)) continue; /* annotator texts not used in bbox */
      ROTATION(rot, flip, 0.0,0.0,text.x0, text.y0,text_x0,text_y0);
@@ -376,6 +377,7 @@ void symbol_bbox(int i, double *x1,double *y1, double *x2, double *y2)
      dbg(1, "symbol bbox: text bbox: %s, %g %g %g %g\n", tmp_txt, xx1, yy1, xx2, yy2);
      dbg(1, "symbol bbox: text bbox: zoom=%g, lw=%g\n", xctx->zoom, xctx->lw);
      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &estr);
+     my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
      #if HAS_CAIRO==1
      if(customfont) {
        cairo_restore(xctx->cairo_ctx);
diff --git a/src/spectre_netlist.c b/src/spectre_netlist.c
index c6509305..cad60ed0 100644
--- a/src/spectre_netlist.c
+++ b/src/spectre_netlist.c
@@ -107,25 +107,27 @@ static int spectre_netlist(FILE *fd, int spectre_stop )
        } else {
          char *val = NULL;
          const char *m;
+         char *res = NULL;
          if(print_spectre_element(fd, i)) {
            fprintf(fd, "//// end_element\n");
          }
          /* hash device_model attribute if any */
          my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &val, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr, "spectre_device_model", 2));
          m = val;
-         if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val);
+         if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val, res);
          else m = tcl_hook2(m);
          if(m[0]) str_hash_lookup(&spectre_model_table, spectre_model_name(m), m, XINSERT);
          else {
            my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &val,
                get_tok_value(xctx->sym[xctx->inst[i].ptr].prop_ptr, "spectre_device_model", 2));
            m = val;
-           if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val);
+           if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val, res);
            else m = tcl_hook2(m);
            if(m[0]) str_hash_lookup(&spectre_model_table, spectre_model_name(m), m, XINSERT);
          }
          my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &spectre_mod_name_res);
          my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &val);
+         if(res) my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
        }
      }
     }
diff --git a/src/spice_netlist.c b/src/spice_netlist.c
index 027ead3b..df84c3e3 100644
--- a/src/spice_netlist.c
+++ b/src/spice_netlist.c
@@ -221,25 +221,27 @@ static int spice_netlist(FILE *fd, int spice_stop )
        } else {
          char *val = NULL;
          const char *m;
+         char *res = NULL;
          if(print_spice_element(fd, i)) {
            fprintf(fd, "**** end_element\n");
          }
          /* hash device_model attribute if any */
          my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &val, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr, "device_model", 2));
          m = val;
-         if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val);
+         if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val, res);
          else m = tcl_hook2(m);
          if(m[0]) str_hash_lookup(&model_table, model_name(m), m, XINSERT);
          else {
            my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &val,
                get_tok_value(xctx->sym[xctx->inst[i].ptr].prop_ptr, "device_model", 2));
            m = val;
-           if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val);
+           if(strchr(val, '@')) m = translate(i, val, res);
            else m = tcl_hook2(m);
            if(m[0]) str_hash_lookup(&model_table, model_name(m), m, XINSERT);
          }
          my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &model_name_result);
          my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &val);
+         if(res) my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
        }
      }
     }
diff --git a/src/svgdraw.c b/src/svgdraw.c
index b44936c5..a203f322 100644
--- a/src/svgdraw.c
+++ b/src/svgdraw.c
@@ -868,6 +868,7 @@ static void svg_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot,
   draw_texts:
   if( xctx->sym_txt && !(xctx->inst[n].flags & HIDE_SYMBOL_TEXTS) && (layer == cadlayers)) {
     const char *txtptr;
+    char *res = NULL;
     if(c != layer) c_for_text = c;
     else if(xctx->inst[n].flags & PIN_OR_LABEL) c_for_text = TEXTWIRELAYER;
     else c_for_text = TEXTLAYER;
@@ -880,7 +881,7 @@ static void svg_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot,
       /* if(xscale*FONTWIDTH* xctx->mooz<1) continue; */
       if(!xctx->show_hidden_texts && (symptr->text[j].flags & (HIDE_TEXT | HIDE_TEXT_INSTANTIATED))) continue;
       if( hide && text.txt_ptr && strcmp(text.txt_ptr, "@symname") && strcmp(text.txt_ptr, "@name") ) continue;
-      txtptr= translate(n, text.txt_ptr);
+      txtptr= translate(n, text.txt_ptr, res);
       ROTATION(rot, flip, 0.0,0.0,text.x0,text.y0,x1,y1);
       textlayer = c_for_text;
       /* do not allow custom text color on hilighted instances */
@@ -921,6 +922,7 @@ static void svg_draw_symbol(int c, int n,int layer,short tmp_flip, short rot,
             x0+x1, y0+y1, xscale, yscale);
       }
     }
+    if(res) my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/token.c b/src/token.c
index a5f7facb..4485ff3c 100644
--- a/src/token.c
+++ b/src/token.c
@@ -1042,13 +1042,17 @@ static void print_vhdl_primitive(FILE *fd, int inst) /* netlist  primitives, 200
    else if(strcmp(token,"@symname")==0) /* of course symname must not be present  */
                                         /* in hash table */
    {
-     const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0)));
+     char *res = NULL;
+     const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res));
      my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+     my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
    }
    else if (strcmp(token,"@symname_ext")==0)
    {
-     const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0)));
+     char *res = NULL;
+     const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0), res));
      my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+     my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
    }
    else if(strcmp(token,"@schname_ext")==0) /* of course schname must not be present  */
                                         /* in hash table */
@@ -1534,10 +1538,15 @@ void print_vhdl_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
 
  /* print instance name and subckt */
   dbg(2, "print_vhdl_element(): printing inst name & subcircuit name\n");
-  if( (lab = expandlabel(name, &tmp)) != NULL)
-    fprintf(fd, "%d %s : %s\n", tmp, lab, sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0))) );
-  else  /*  name in some strange format, probably an error */
-    fprintf(fd, "1 %s : %s\n", name, sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0))) );
+  if( (lab = expandlabel(name, &tmp)) != NULL) {
+    char *res = NULL;
+    fprintf(fd, "%d %s : %s\n", tmp, lab, sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res)) );
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
+  } else { /*  name in some strange format, probably an error */
+    char *res = NULL;
+    fprintf(fd, "1 %s : %s\n", name, sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res)) );
+    my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
+  }
   dbg(2, "print_vhdl_element(): printing generics passed as properties\n");
 
 
@@ -2435,13 +2444,17 @@ int print_spice_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
       }
       else if (strcmp(token,"@symname")==0) /* of course symname must not be present in attributes */
       {
-        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0)));
+        char *res = NULL;
+        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res));
         my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       }
       else if (strcmp(token,"@symname_ext")==0) /* of course symname_ext must not be present in attributes */
       {
-        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0)));
+        char *res = NULL;
+        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0), res));
         my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       }
       else if(strcmp(token,"@topschname")==0) /* of course topschname must not be present in attributes */
       {
@@ -2814,13 +2827,17 @@ int print_spectre_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
       }
       else if (strcmp(token,"@symname")==0) /* of course symname must not be present in attributes */
       {
-        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0)));
+        char *res = NULL;
+        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res));
         my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       }
       else if (strcmp(token,"@symname_ext")==0) /* of course symname_ext must not be present in attributes */
       {
-        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0)));
+        char *res = NULL;
+        const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0), res));
         my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+        my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
       }
       else if(strcmp(token,"@topschname")==0) /* of course topschname must not be present in attributes */
       {
@@ -3167,10 +3184,12 @@ void print_tedax_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
    int net_mult;
    int pin_mult;
    int n;
+   char *res = NULL;
    Int_hashtable table={NULL, 0};
    subcircuit = 1;
    fprintf(fd, "__subcircuit__ %s %s\n",
-       sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0))), xctx->inst[inst].instname);
+       sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res)), xctx->inst[inst].instname);
+   my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
    int_hash_init(&table, 37);
    for(i=0;i<no_of_pins; ++i) {
      my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &net, net_name(inst,i, &net_mult, 0, 1));
@@ -3308,13 +3327,17 @@ void print_tedax_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
     else if(strcmp(token,"@symname")==0)        /* of course symname must not be present  */
                                         /* in hash table */
     {
-      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0)));
+      char *res = NULL;
+      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res));
       fputs(s, fd);
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     }
     else if (strcmp(token,"@symname_ext")==0)
     {
-      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0)));
+      char *res = NULL;
+      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0), res));
       fputs(s, fd);
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     }
     else if(strcmp(token,"@schname_ext")==0)        /* of course schname must not be present  */
                                                 /* in hash table */
@@ -3570,13 +3593,17 @@ static void print_verilog_primitive(FILE *fd, int inst) /* netlist switch level
     else if(strcmp(token,"@symname")==0) /* of course symname must not be present  */
                                          /* in hash table */
     {
-      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0)));
+      char *res = NULL;
+      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 0, 0), res));
       my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     }
     else if (strcmp(token,"@symname_ext")==0)
     {
-      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0)));
+      char *res = NULL;
+      const char *s = sanitize(translate(inst, get_sym_name(inst, 0, 1, 0), res));
       my_mstrcat(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, s, NULL);
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
     }
     else if(strcmp(token,"@schname_ext")==0) /* of course schname must not be present  */
                                          /* in hash table */
@@ -4466,14 +4493,12 @@ char *get_fqdevice(const char *param, int modelparam, const char *instname)
 /* substitute given tokens in a string with their corresponding values */
 /* ex.: name=@name w=@w l=@l ---> name=m112 w=3e-6 l=0.8e-6 */
 /* if s==NULL return emty string */
-const char *translate(int inst, const char *s)
+const char *translate(int inst, const char *s, char *result)
 {
-  static int mutex = 0;
   #ifdef __unix__
   static regex_t *get_sp_cur = NULL;
   #endif
   static const char *empty="";
-  static char *result=NULL; /* safe to keep even with multiple schematics */
   size_t size=0;
   size_t tmp;
   register int c, state=TOK_BEGIN, space;
@@ -4495,7 +4520,6 @@ const char *translate(int inst, const char *s)
   char *instname = NULL;
   
   if(!s && inst == -1) {
-    if(result) my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &result);
     #ifdef __unix__
     if(get_sp_cur) {
       regfree(get_sp_cur);
@@ -4527,12 +4551,6 @@ const char *translate(int inst, const char *s)
     return empty;
   }
 
-  if(mutex > 0) {
-    dbg(0, "translate(): reentrant call, mutex=%d, skip and return empty string", mutex);
-    return empty;
-  }
-  mutex++;
-
   /* if spice_get_* token not processed by tcl use enginering notation (2m, 3u, ...)  */
   if(!(strstr(s, "tcleval(") == s)) engineering = 1;
   instname = (inst >=0 && xctx->inst[inst].instname) ? xctx->inst[inst].instname : "";
@@ -5312,8 +5330,6 @@ const char *translate(int inst, const char *s)
    * if result is like: 'tcleval(some_string)' pass it thru tcl evaluation so expressions
    * can be calculated */
 
-
-  mutex--;
   my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, tcl_hook2(result));
   my_strdup2(_ALLOC_ID_, &result, spice_get_node(result));
 
diff --git a/src/verilog_netlist.c b/src/verilog_netlist.c
index 47eeb20d..8504b38f 100644
--- a/src/verilog_netlist.c
+++ b/src/verilog_netlist.c
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ int global_verilog_netlist(int global, int alert)  /* netlister driver */
  Str_hashtable subckt_table = {NULL, 0};
  int lvs_ignore = tclgetboolvar("lvs_ignore");
  int save_prev_mod = xctx->prev_set_modify;
+ char *res = NULL;
 
  exit_code = 0; /* reset exit code */
  split_f = tclgetboolvar("split_files");
@@ -140,7 +141,8 @@ int global_verilog_netlist(int global, int alert)  /* netlister driver */
       str_tmp = get_tok_value(xctx->sym[xctx->inst[i].ptr].prop_ptr, "verilog_format", 2);
 
    my_strdup(_ALLOC_ID_, &tmp_string, str_tmp);
-   fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(i, tmp_string) : "<NULL>");
+   fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(i, tmp_string, res) : "<NULL>");
+   my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
   }
  }
 
@@ -436,6 +438,7 @@ int verilog_block_netlist(FILE *fd, int i, int alert)
   char *name = NULL;
   int lvs_ignore = tclgetboolvar("lvs_ignore");
   const char *default_schematic;
+  char *res = NULL;
 
   split_f = tclgetboolvar("split_files");
   if(!strboolcmp( get_tok_value(xctx->sym[i].prop_ptr,"verilog_stop",0),"true") )
@@ -490,7 +493,8 @@ int verilog_block_netlist(FILE *fd, int i, int alert)
       if(!xctx->tok_size && strcmp(fmt_attr, "verilog_format"))
          str_tmp = get_tok_value(xctx->sym[xctx->inst[j].ptr].prop_ptr, "verilog_format", 2);
       my_strdup(_ALLOC_ID_, &tmp_string, str_tmp);
-      fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(j, tmp_string) : "<NULL>");
+      fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(j, tmp_string, res) : "<NULL>");
+      my_free(_ALLOC_ID_, &res);
      }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/xinit.c b/src/xinit.c
index 741823db..29631c14 100644
--- a/src/xinit.c
+++ b/src/xinit.c
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ static void xwin_exit(void)
  clear_expandlabel_data();
  get_sym_template(NULL, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
  list_tokens(NULL, 0); /* clear static data in function */
- translate(-1, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
+ translate(-1, NULL, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
  translate2(NULL, 0, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
  translate3(NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
  subst_token(NULL, NULL, NULL); /* clear static data in function */
diff --git a/src/xschem.h b/src/xschem.h
index ba31d21b..c622fb3d 100644
--- a/src/xschem.h
+++ b/src/xschem.h
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ extern char *find_nth(const char *str, const char *sep, const char *quote, int k
 extern int isonlydigit(const char *s);
 extern char *spice_get_node(const char *token);
 extern char *get_fqdevice(const char *param, int modelparam, const char *instname);
-extern const char *translate(int inst, const char* s);
+extern const char *translate(int inst, const char* s, char *result);
 extern const char* translate2(Lcc *lcc, int level, char* s);
 extern const char *translate3(const char* s, int eat_escapes, const char *s1,
                               const char *s2, const char *s3, const char *s4);